I was married at 14, went to live with my husband at 17 and was widowed at 21 with three children. For a number of people in my position – financially dependent, living in difficult circumstances and faced with the challenge of seeing through my own lifetime and much of that of my children – that would have been the virtual end.

* “Na ghabraao, mein chhoo. Takleef hoi, maney lakhjo”which he would tell me time and again.

* “Eh logo ne kehjo ke roz maara paasey aavey” as advice I should give to my children who were moving from Surat to Bombay for pursuring their studies.

* “Aa ghar to ek mehel jeevu chhey” when he saw my sister Amina’s humble house in Surat.

* “Wadhharey kharcho na karjo” after insisting on seeing the vardi for his ziaafat.

* “Silaai nu kaam karso toh thodi aamdani thai jaasey and mahina no kharcho nikli jaasaey”

* “Sukaam bachchao majlis ma late aaaya?” after picking out the late entry of my children in the majlis from a crowd of hundreds

-         Bahen Fatema Muchhala, Surat (expired)